Phase-3 foundation-laying ceremony: Karnataka outspending Centre on Bengaluru metro, says CM Siddaramaiah; seeks equal support

NEW DELHI: At the foundation-laying ceremony for Phase-3 of Bengaluru’s metro network on Sunday, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said that the state has been bearing a greater share of the project’s cost than the Central government. Sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he pointed out that "even though the project is meant to be jointly funded," Karnataka has ended up contributing more financially. The event was also attended by Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar. During his address, Siddaramaiah emphasized that, as per the agreement, both the state and Centre are to share the funding equally, but "the state is spending more on this project." He acknowledged the Centre’s support in both technical and financial terms but pointed out that most of the assistance is provided through loans and equity—both of which the state is obligated to repay with interest. "So far, Rs 3,987 crore has been refunded," he added. The chief minister shared that 96.10 km of metro lines have already been completed, with the state government investing Rs 25,387 crore compared to the Centre’s contribution of Rs 7,468.86 crore. Highlighting the upcoming Yellow Line, which spans 19.15 km and has been constructed at a cost of Rs 7,160 crore, he said it is expected to serve 7.5 lakh commuters daily. Presently, nine lakh people use the metro, a number projected to rise to 12.5 lakh once the Yellow Line becomes operational. Siddaramaiah stressed that the metro is vital due to Bengaluru’s rapid urban growth and increasing traffic congestion. He said the network is set to expand to 220 km by 2030, aiming to serve 30 lakh daily passengers. Phases 1, 2, 2A, and 2B have already been completed. The foundation for Phase-3 has now been laid, and Phase-3A will commence after receiving the Centre’s approval. Metro-4 is planned to cover an additional 53 km. The chief minister also appealed to the Prime Minister to treat Karnataka with the same importance as Maharashtra and Gujarat and expressed gratitude for the inauguration of the Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat train.(With agency inputs)